Lipoxin A yields an electrophilic 15-oxo metabolite that mediates FPR2 receptor-independent anti-inflammatory signaling.

The enzymatic oxidation of arachidonic acid is proposed to yield trihydroxytetraene species (termed lipoxins) that resolve inflammation via ligand activation of the formyl peptide receptor, FPR2. While cell and murine models activate signaling responses to synthetic lipoxins, primarily lipoxin A (LXA), there are expanding concerns about the reported biological formation, detection, and signaling mechanisms ascribed to LXA and related di- and tri-hydroxy ω-6 and ω-3 fatty acids. The generation and signaling actions of LXA and its primary 15-oxo metabolite were assessed in control, lipopolysaccharide-activated, and arachidonic acid-supplemented RAW264.

Complications of excess weight seen in two tier 3 paediatric weight management services: an observational study.

Background: Children and young people living with severe obesity experience a range of complications of excess weight (CEW); however the prevalence of complications is not well defined. We have evaluated baseline characteristics and CEW of patients from two UK tier 3 paediatric weight management services.

Methods: All new patients aged 2-17 years seen from March 2022 to February 2023 were included.

Diagnostic accuracy of artificial intelligence for identifying systolic and diastolic cardiac dysfunction in the emergency department.

Introduction: Cardiac point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) can evaluate for systolic and diastolic dysfunction to inform care in the Emergency Department (ED). However, accurate assessment can be limited by user experience. Artificial intelligence (AI) has been proposed as a model to increase the accuracy of cardiac POCUS.

Oxenoid Reactivity Enabled by Targeted Photoactivation of Periodate.

The chemistry of low-valent intermediates continues to inspire new modes of reactivity across synthetic chemistry. But while the generation and reactivity of both carbenes and nitrenes are well-established, difficulties in accessing oxene, their oxygen-based congener, has severely hampered its application in synthesis. Here, we report a conceptually novel approach towards oxenoid reactivity through the violet-light photolysis of tetrabutylammonium periodate.

Faecal haemoglobin concentration and colorectal cancer site, stage and grade in a symptomatic cohort.

Aim: Minimal evidence exists regarding faecal immunochemical tests (FITs) for colorectal cancer (CRC) site, stage and grade in symptomatic patients. The primary aim is to determine any association between faecal haemoglobin concentration (f-Hb) (analysed with OC-Sensor™ Pledia) and these prognostic factors. The secondary aim is to determine the association between f-Hb and anaemia, microcytosis and iron deficiency (Hb, mean corpuscular volume [MCV] and ferritin).

Social Vulnerability and National Diabetes Prevention Program Recognition Status.

Introduction: The CDC National Diabetes Prevention Program (National DPP) aims to reduce the incidence of type 2 diabetes in the U.S. Organizations delivering the National DPP receive pending, preliminary, full, or full-plus recognition status based on specific program criteria and outcomes.

The repeat FIT (RFIT) study: Does repeating faecal immunochemical tests provide reassurance and improve colorectal cancer detection?

Aim: Faecal immunochemical tests (FIT) are highly sensitive for colorectal cancer (CRC) detection. Little evidence exists regarding repeat FIT. The repeat FIT (RFIT) study aimed to determine whether second and third FIT provide reassurance and improve CRC or significant bowel disease (SBD) identification.

Impact of Tracheostomy Status on Sternal Wound Infections in Children Following Median Sternotomy.

Objective: Sternal wound infection (SWI) is a rare but potentially life-threatening complication in children following sternotomy. Risk factors include young age, extended preoperative hospitalization, and prolonged ventilatory support. Few studies have explored the impact of pre-existing tracheostomy on SWI in pediatric patients.

Computational Design of Bidentate Hypervalent Iodine Catalysts in Halogen Bond-Mediated Organocatalysis.

In recent years, halogen bond-based organocatalysis has garnered significant attention as an alternative to hydrogen-based catalysis, capturing considerable interest within the scientific community. This transition has witnessed the evolution of catalytic scaffolds from monodentate to bidentate architectures, and from monovalent to hypervalent species. In this DFT-based study, we explored a bidentate hypervalent iodine(III)-based system that has already undergone experimental validation.

Gastrointestinal Permeability After Bariatric Surgery: A Systematic Review.

Gastrointestinal permeability refers to the movement of substances across the gut wall. This is mediated by endotoxemia (bacterial products entering the systemic circulation), and is associated with metabolic disease. The effect of bariatric surgery on permeability remains uncertain; the associated dietary, metabolic and weight changes are suggested to influence, or trigger, altered permeability.

The microbial composition of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma: a systematic review of 16S rRNA gene sequencing.

Background: Pancreatic cancer, specifically pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), continues to pose a significant clinical and scientific challenge. The most significant finding of recent years is that PDAC tumours harbour their specific microbiome, which differs amongst tumour entities and is distinct from healthy tissue. This review aims to evaluate and summarise all PDAC studies that have used the next-generation technique, 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing within each bodily compartment.

Therapeutic Avenues to Modulate B-Cell Function in Patients With Cardiovascular Disease.

The adaptive immune system plays an important role in the development and progression of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. B cells can have both proatherogenic and atheroprotective roles, making treatments aimed at modulating B cells important therapeutic targets. The innate-like B-cell response is generally considered atheroprotective, while the adaptive response is associated with mixed consequences for atherosclerosis.

Impact of tertiary lymphoid structures on prognosis and therapeutic response in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

Background: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is known to have a heterogeneous desmoplastic tumour microenvironment (TME) with a large number of immunosuppressive cells. Recently, high B-cell infiltration in PDAC has received growing interest as a potential therapeutic target.

Methods: Our literature review summarises the characteristics of tumour-associated tertiary lymphoid structures (TLSs) and highlight the key studies exploring the clinical outcomes of TLSs in PDAC patients and the direct effect on the TME.

Ultrasound-guided paramedian approach: A novel technique for lumbar puncture in the Emergency Department.

Lumbar puncture is performed to evaluate for multiple neurologic conditions, including meningitis and subarachnoid hemorrhage. However, success rates with the landmark-based technique are limited. Ultrasound is most commonly used for pre-marking without dynamic guidance, which presents several limitations, including absence of real-time guidance and lack of reliability if any patient movement occurs after skin marking.

Artificial intelligence and point-of-care ultrasound: Benefits, limitations, and implications for the future.

The utilization of artificial intelligence (AI) in medical imaging has become a rapidly growing field as a means to address contemporary demands and challenges of healthcare. Among the emerging applications of AI is point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS), in which the combination of these two technologies has garnered recent attention in research and clinical settings. In this Controversies paper, we will discuss the benefits, limitations, and future considerations of AI in POCUS for patients, clinicians, and healthcare systems.

The Society of Thoracic Surgeons Congenital Heart Surgery Database: 2023 Update on Outcomes and Research.

The Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) Congenital Heart Surgery Database (CHSD) continues to be the most comprehensive database of congenital and pediatric cardiothoracic surgical procedures in the world and contains information on 664,210 operations as of June 30, 2023. The 35th harvest of the STS CHSD data was undertaken in Spring 2023, spanning the 4-year period January 1, 2019, through December 31, 2022, and included 144,919 operations performed at 114 participating sites in North America. The harvest analysis was successfully executed by the STS Research and Analytic Center.